Propeller mechanism for boats

ABSTRACT

An improved propelling mechanism for boats powered with inboard motors. The device consists of two shafts attached to gear mechanisms which are enclosed in cowlings mounted opposite each other on the hull of a boat above the waterline. To the ends of the shafts propellers are mounted. Supports are provided attached to the splash board which also supports two rudders mounted behind the propellers. The gear mechanisms are connected to a motor centrally located inside the boat.

Dec. 9, 1975 3,611,973 10/1971 Stuart 114/162 PROPELLER MECHANISM FORBOATS [76] Inventor:

David R. Bloch, 400 Merrimac Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix W ,At.3,Ctl. 2 p 2 OS a Mes-a Ca If Assistant Exammer-Sherman D. BasingerAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Gilbert A. Thomas [22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1974[21] Appl. No.: 533,139

[57] ABSTRACT An improved propelling mechanism for boats powered 52 US.115/38; 115/38 with inboard motors The .deme cfnsists of Shafts 51 Int.B63H 5/08 9 gear mechaPlsms whch are encbsed 58 Field ofSearch........... 9/1 R; 114/56, 43.5 vc, muted Q each other on the hullof a 114/162 163. 115/37 38 42 boat above the waterline. To the ends ofthe shafts propellers are mounted. Supports are provided attached to thesplash board which also supports two rudders mounted behind thepropellers. The gear References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS mechanismsare connected to a motor centrally located inside the boat.

809 064 Johnson 1,247,082 Cobb 3,143,991 8/1964Anderson..........m.......

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,924,557

PROPELLER MECHANISM FOR BOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to an improved propelling mechanismfor boats powered with inboard motors.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventional inboard motor-powered boatshave hull openings for one or two shafts at the end of which propellersare mounted. The problem of sealing these hull openings, yet permittinghigh speed rotating shafts to operate, has never been satisfactorilysolved. Various gaskets and seal combinations are used in the industry.However, leaks and sunken boats still result due to a combination offactors which include vibrational stress, and deterioration of the sealand gasket materials. The concept of mounting propellers and shaftsoutside the hull have been disclosed by Cobb, US. Pat. No. 1,247,082 buthis device was an auxiliary mechanism for sailboats or was used tosupplement the main propulsion mechanism. It could be raised above thewater and stored in a non-use position.

Hamilton, US. Pat. No. 1,321,304 described propelling mechanisms onopposite sides of a hull but the drawing shafts were bebw the water lineproviding no solution to the problem of leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to solve theproblem of water leakage through openings in a boat hull below the waterline which are openings for a propeller shaft or shafts and usually useseals or gaskets, to attempt to prevent such leakage by eliminating theneed for such openings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means of mountingpropellers powered by an inboard motor so that the propellers are notunder the hull, permitting the boat to operate in shallow waters.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inboard powered boatthat a fisherman can use to troll from the rear and not have the waterbehind the boat disturbed by the wake or have his line entangled on thenormally rear centrally mounted propellers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for propelling aboat with twin propeller drive which can be shielded so as to preventswimmers from being injured by the propellers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for propelling aboat with twin propeller drive which can have the propeller drive shaftsremoved or replaced with the boat remaining in the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for propelling aboat with twin propeller drive which can have the propellers removed orreplaced with the boat remaining in the water.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description considered in conjunction with theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partially cutaway,elevational view of a boat with the instant invention FIG. 2 is a rearview of the propellers mounted on a boat hull FIG. 3 is a top transversesection through the hull shaft housing and rudder drive mechanism 2 FIG.4 is a side transverse section of a hull with the invention in itspreferred mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsFIGS. 1 4 are various views of the instant invention. A boat hull 10 ispierced above the waterline 11 and a housing 12 is mounted over thepierced section.

An inboard engine 20 is mounted inside the boat with its drive shaftperpendicular to the length of the boat and aligned with the hullopenings. While the drawings illustrate a mode of the invention with oneengine, dual engines could be used each driving a propeller shaft on oneside of the hull. The engine has two drive shaft extensions 21 connectedat one end with the motor drive shaft extending at the other end througha support bearing 23 located in the hull. The end of this shaft whichextends through the bearing is connected to one element 24 of bevel ormiter gear.

Perpendicular to the motor drive shafts two propeller shafts 30 aremounted on the outside of the hull, one end of the shafts extend througha bearing 31 mounted in hull housing 12 the end of such shafts containthe other elements 32 of the miter or bevel gear in interconnectedoperating relationship with element 24 on the motor drive shaft 21.

The propeller drive shafts 30 extend downward at an angle of from 20 to30 depending upon the length of the hull. A support member 33 is mountedat the rear of the hull which extends around the rear section to thehousings 12 this support member acts as a splash board to reduce watersplashage into the boat. The support member contains a propeller shaftsupport bracket 34 which houses two bearings 35 through which the shaftsextend. At the end of the shafts propellers 37 are mounted.

The shafts extend beyond the bearings to the depth required by the hulldimensions and configuration to provide maximum drive withoutcavitation. At a rearward extension of the support member 33 a hollowbracket 36 is mounted to rigidly secure support member 33 to the rear ofthe hull.

A rudder 38 is attached to the support member 33 its control cablespassing through hollow bracket 36 to steering mechanisms as seen in FIG.1 and shown as a well known boat type steering wheel located inside theboat.

In operation single or dual inboard motors are interconnected by aforward, reverse and neutral clutch mechanism to propeller shaftsthrough openings in a boats hull above the water line.

The shafts are angled to obtain the most efficient thrust withoutcavitation.

A support member splash board combination encircles the rear of the hullabove the waterline. To this is attached through support brackets an armbearing through which the propeller shafts extends the rudders and theircontrol mechanisms. Propellers of various configurations are attached tothe ends of the shafts.

A boat designed using this invention will never leak through under wateropenings since they are not in this design. The other objects andadvantages cited above will be obtained.

Without further elaboration, by studying the drawings and specificationsthose skilled in the arts may adopt this invention to various size andconfigurations of water crafts. Any desired or necessary changes may 3be made in the formed proportions of the several parts of the devicewithout departing from or sacrificing any of the features of theinventive combination.

I claim:

1. An improved propeller drive and rudder mechanism for boats comprisingin combination;

a boat hull having an opening disposed on each side thereof positionedabove the waterline;

an inboard motor means having a pair of drive shafts extending outwardlytherefrom and received within each of said openings in said boat hull;

a watertight housing mounted over each of said openings;

a shaft drive means operably disposed within each of said housings andconnected to respective motor drive shafts;

a pair of propeller shafts positioned along the outer sides of said hullwherein one end thereof is connected to said shaft drive means wherebysaid motor means operates said propeller shafts;

a propeller means located at one end of each propeller shaft;

a support member secured to said hull above the wa-.

ders is controlled thereby.

1. An improved propeller drive and rudder mechanism for boats comprisingin combination; a boat hull having an opening disposed on each sidethereof positioned above the waterline; an inboard motor means having apair of drive shafts extending outwardly therefrom and received withineach of said openings in said boat hull; a watertight housing mountedover each of said openings; a shaft drive means operably disposed withineach of sAid housings and connected to respective motor drive shafts; apair of propeller shafts positioned along the outer sides of said hullwherein one end thereof is connected to said shaft drive means wherebysaid motor means operates said propeller shafts; a propeller meanslocated at one end of each propeller shaft; a support member secured tosaid hull above the waterline thereof and positioned along the rear andsides of said hull extending forwardly to said housing whereby saidpropeller shaft is disposed thereunder; bearing means attached to saidsupport member and arranged to operably receive respective propellershafts therethrough; rudder means positioned to the rear of saidpropeller means in alignment therewith and attached to said supportmember; and a steering mechanism operably mounted within said hull andoperably interconnected to each of said rudder means whereby themovement of said rudders is controlled thereby.